Man gets suspended sentence over Dalton Mills arson

A man who was 15 when an arson attack caused £15m of damage to the historic Dalton Mills complex in Keighley has been given a suspended sentence.

McKenzie Mottram, now 20, was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court for his role in the blaze, which destroyed the Genappe Mill building on 3 March 2022.

The Grade II* listed site, which had been used as a filming location for television dramas including Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey, was badly damaged in the fire.

Judge Jonathan Robinson sentenced Mottram to 18 months' detention, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard Mottram and co-defendant Keaton Greenman were among a group of youths who entered the mill through a window shortly before lunchtime on the day of the fire.

Two polystyrene gargoyles inside the mill were broken up and set alight, the court heard. The fire spread rapidly through the building, causing the second floor to collapse.

About 20 fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze and firefighters remained at the scene for three days.

Mottram, formerly of Bradford and now living in the Sheffield area, was convicted of arson following a trial at Bradford Youth Court in August 2024.

His barrister, Verity Barnes, told the court he had become a "reformed character" since the offence and had "matured considerably".

The court heard Mottram used Greenman's mobile phone to record footage showing his co-defendant kicking pieces of polystyrene onto the flames.

Judge Robinson said Dalton Mills was historically important and noted that businesses based at the site had suffered losses of about £130,000 as a result of the fire.

"The word used in the opening was gutted and that would seem to be appropriate," he said.

The judge said he was satisfied Mottram had neither started the fire nor added combustible material to it, and accepted he had been led by Greenman, whom he described as the principal offender.

Greenman, 19, was due to be sentenced alongside Mottram, but his case was adjourned until February while a pre-sentence report is prepared.

Dalton Mills has since been the scene of several further fires, including a major blaze earlier this year which led to the evacuation of residents from nearby properties.

Bradford Council has previously said it has been working with Historic England and the Crown Estate on measures to improve security at the site.

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